Machine for unwinding and measuring rolled material



April 30, 1957 J. E. ST. LAURENT 2,790,243

MACHINE FOR UNWINDING AND MEASURING ROLLED MATERIAL Filed Oct. 7, 195a 2 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 ,%z I 55 J5 8 i 4 I i Y 87 6 Im m/zrrf 27052 6 [gear Sfla went pril 3.0, 1957 J. 5:. s1. LAURENT MACHINE FOR UNWINDING. AND MEASURING ROLLED MATERI AL Filed'Oct. '7, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I l- 26 25 i1 1%72 .ZZMm/or:

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MACHINE FOR UNWINDING AND MEASURING ROLLED MATERIAL Joseph Elzar St. Laurent, Riviere a Claude, Quebec, Canada Application October 7, 1953, Serial No. 384,571 5 Claims. (Cl. 33-129) The present invention pertains to a novel machine for holding and transporting a roll of material in order that it may be unrolled and the unrolled length measuredand cut.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a comprises a wheeled base on which is built a structure The lower end of the.

for supporting a roll of material. roll rests on a rotatable disk. A similar disk is slidable at the top of the structure to engage the upper end of the roll. The disks carry devices adapted to clamp the roll so that it turns without slipping.

As the disks are turned to unwind the roll, the latter engages a friction wheel attached to an indicator, to measure the length that has been rolled off. The driving mechanism is then shifted to move a cutter that severs the unwound and measured length. A means is provided for retracting the friction wheel during loading of the machine and for automatically releasing the wheel when the roll begins to turn.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the following description and in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the device;

Figure 2 is an elevation;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a detail section;

Figure 7 is a horizontal section of the transmission box;

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 2;

Figure 9 is a detail perspective view;

Figure 10 is another detail perspective view;

Figure 11 is a detail vertical section of the base; and

Figure 12 is a section on the line 12-12 of Figure 11.

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characterswhich are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

The device comprises a small carriage which includes a base I mounted on castors 2. The base is also the bottom of a box 3 constituting the lower part of the machine. For pushing and steering a pair of spaced rods 4 extend angularly from the box and are joined at their upper ends by a bar 5. Four posts 6 stand on the base 1 and pass through the top 7 of the box 3. The posts are of such height as to receive, lengthwise, a roll of fabric such as tarpaulin material. At the upper ends the posts are joined by a rectangular plate 8.

Each pair of posts 6 is enclosed at the upper ends in an irregular housing 9 and 10 (Figure 4), shaped and positioned to permit insertion of the roll of fabric to be nited States Patent 2,790,243 PaFente d 30, 19 57 handled. The housings conceal certain parts, for the sake of appearance. At the upper ends of the posts' is slidably mounted a box-like structure 11, as shown in Figures 3' and 4.

In the center of the box 11 is mounted a short vertical shaft '12 on which is keyed a' pinion 13; The shaft 12 is received in a' hub 14 of a gear 15, lying below the pinion 13. Below the box 11, the'hub 14 carries a disk 16 fixed thereto. Below the disk 16 is a fiat cup 17 which is not secured to the disk. The shaft 12 carries a cam 18 disposed in the 'cup. The cam engages a dog 19 pushed into a slot 20 (Figure 5) in the cup by a flat spring 21 disposed in the cup. The latter parts correspond to'a similar construction top 7 of box 3 shown in plan view in Figure 5. Numerals 19, 20 and 21 are to be found in said Figure 5' indicating corresponding parts not visible in Figure 3.

On the top 7 of box '3 is mounted a disk 22 similar to disk 16. Over disk 22 is an inverted cup 23 similar to cup 17. A' vertical shaft '24 passes through the disk 22 and a fixed hub 25 of the disk 22. "The upper end of'shaft 24 carries a cam 26 similar to cam 18. In the cup 23 are a dog 19 and a spring 21 (Figure 5), while the cup 23 has a slot 20 as previously described. The lower end of shaft 24 carries a pinion 27 corresponding to pinion 13 keyed to shaft 12. The pinions 13 and .27

are engaged respectively by small toothed racks 28 and 29 on horizontal rods 30 and 31. These rods slide in bearings 32 and 33 mounted respectively on the members 11 and 1. p j

Corresponding ends of the shafts 30, 31 are joined by a vertical shaft 34. Nearby'is another vertical shaft 35 having its ends in bearings 36 on the adjacent post 6. The shaft 35 carries a handle 37 and two levers 38 engaging'the shaft 34 for displacing the latter'in order to slide the rods 30 and 31 in their respective bearings 32 and 33.

Under the top plate 8 are fixed two bearings 39 carrying a shaft 40. Cords 41 are wound on the ends of shaft 40 for suspension of the box 11. One end of shaft 40 carries a gear (not shown) meshing with an endless chain 42, suspended and having its lower end geared to a shaft 43 mounted in a post 6. The shaft 43 carries a crank 44, and a spring-pressed pawl 45 locks in one of several notches (not shown) in the shaft 43 to retain the angular position of the latter.

In the box 3 is mounted an electric motor 46 (Figure 8) having a shaft 47, with a universal joint 48, extending to a variable transmission box 49. Another shaft 50 extends angularly from the box 49 to a gear box 51 and includes a universal joint 52. The box 51 contains two other shafts 53 and 54 (Figure 7) parallel to the shaft 50. On the shaft 50 is slidably mounted a shift gear 55 adapted to mesh alternatively with an idler gear 56 and a fixed gear 57 on shaft 54. Gear 56 is in constant engagement with a gear 58 fixed on shaft 53, while gear 57 causes rotation of a gear 59 on shaft 54, outside the box 51. The gear 55 is shifted by a finger 60 secured on a rod 61 actuated by a lever 62 (Figure 8).

The shaft 53 is extended outside the box 51 and there carries a conical gear 62' (Figures 7 and 8) meshing with another conical gear 63 secured beneath a gear 64. The latter meshes with a larger gear 65 below the hub 25 (Figures 3 and 11) in'order to turn the disk 22 in the same direction. The shaft 66 of gear 64 extends to the level of gear 15 and carries a gear 67 (Figure 4) meshing with gear 15.

The gear 59 drives an endless chain 68 (Figures 7 and 10) which drives a gear 69 mounted on a transversal shaft 70 at a lower corner of a vertical frame. 71. Between the two thicknesses of this frame is received the m untinall. (Figures 6 andl f. a. cir ular cutter. 7.3....

inserted: The. four- .CO2I1ZS..O. the. frame 71. carry. gears; 2

74 that support an endlessachain 75, one; of the gears 74 being drivenbythe shaft 70. The mounting .72 is fixed.

to chain 75 (Figure 10) and slides between .the .two thicknesses of frame 71.

On the top of the. box 51 is mounted a rail 76 (Figure 11-) on which ride two spaced wheels 77 of a carriage 78. A slide frame 79 (Figure 12) supports the wheels at both sides to prevent tilting. The carriage 78 carries a fork 80 which has its upper leg serving as a bearing for a flexible shaft 81 carrying a friction wheel 82. The latter comes in contact with a roll of fabric 83 (Figure 11) restingon the disk 22 and containing the cup 23. A coil spring 84 joining the carriage to the box 51' draws the wheel 82 to the roll 83.. For the opposite movement, a cord '85 is attached to the carriage and to a hand lever 86.

The upper end of flexible shaft 81 extends to a counting-device 87 (Figure 2) fixed to an intermediate point of the enclosure 10. The tension of the spring 84 is opposed by a stop 88 (Figures 9 and ll) engaging the lower arm of fork 8G. The stop 88 is articulated at its midpoint at 89 (Figure 9) to a bent frame 90 on the fixed structure. The free end of the stop 88 carries a roller 91 adapted to be engaged by a protuberance 92 (Figures 8 and 11) on the gear 65. The stop 88 is thereby pivoted out of engagement with the fork 80, permitting the wheel 82'to engage the roll 83.

Adjacent to the cutter 73 is a vertical shaft 93 (Figure adapted to engage and guide the material as it is wound cit the roll. A pointer 94 (Figure 2) fixed on the box 11 and disposed externally thereof shows the position of the; box when adjusted to engage the upper end of the roll.

In the use of the device, the wheeled machine is pushed atthe bar 5 to the selected roll of material. By turning the crank 44 and operating the chain 42 the disk 16. is brought upon the upper end of the roll. The free end of the roll is entered between vertical shaft 93 and frame 71 in order to reach and fix its corners in slots 20 of cups 17 and 23. a

The'dogs 19 of each cup are drawn inward of the slots 20 by springs 21 as soon as lever 37 is released.

The disks 16 and Rare rotated by operating lever 62 (Figures 2 and S) to mesh the gears 55, 56 and rotate shaft 66 to turn the gears 15 and 65 through the gears 64 and 67, as set forth.

On the first turn of the gear 65, the member92 releases the friction wheel 82 as also set forth. The rotation of the wheel 82 operates the counter or indicator 87 to disclose the length of material rolled off. When the desired length has been rolled off, the lever 62 is actuated to disengage the gear from gear 56 and mesh it with. gear, 57. The latter controls the chain 68 which drives the chain 75 and moves the cutter 73 in the frame 71, to sever the material as it bears against shaft 93. The lever 86 is now operated to withdraw the carriage 78 and permit the fork to engage the stop 88. The friction disk 16, and the upper box 1i may be lifted by operation of crank 44 to permit removal of the roll from the machine.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various alterations of the details of construction may be made without departing from the scope. of the invention as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A machine of the character described. comprising a vertical hollow. structure adapted to receive a roll of material, a di sk rotatably mountedatlhe bottomof said 4 s truc.tl.uje, a cup on said disk and adapted to enter the lower end of a roll set on said disk, a similar disk supported for vertical movement at the upper end of said structure, a similar cup at the lower surface of the last named disk, means for rotating said disks to unwind the roll further charactertized by a friction wheel adapted to engage the roll, a length indicator connected to said wheel, means for holding said wheel in a retracted position from the roll, and means rotatable with one of said disksfor releasing said holding means.

2. A machine of the character described comprising a vertical hollow structure adapted to receive a roll of material, a disk rotatably mounted at the bottom of said structure, a cup on said disk and adapted to enter the lower end of a roll set on said disk, :1 similar disk supported for vertical movement at the upper end of said "structure, a similar .cup atsthe'lowersurface of the last named disk,-means for rotatingsaid disks to unwind the rollfurther characterizedby a friction wheel adapted to I engage the roll, a length indicator connected to said wheelymeans for holding said wheel in a retracted position fromthe roll,'and means rotatable with one of said disks for releasing said holding means, a motor in said structure for operating said disk rotating means.

3. A machine of the character described comprising a vertical hollow structure adapted to receive a roll of material, a disk rotatably mounted at the bottom of said structure-a cupon said. disk and adapted to enter the lower end. of a roll set on said disk, a similar disk supported for :vertical movement at the-upper end of said structure, a similar-cup at the lower surface of the last named disk, means for rotating said disks to unwind the roll further characterized by a carriage slidably mounted adjacent toone of said disks, a friction Wheel carried by said carriage,a lengthindicator connected to said wheel, and a spring drawing said carriage toward said disk.

4. A machine of the character described comprising a vertical hollow structure, adapted to receivev a roll of material, a disk rotatably mounted at the bottom of said structure, a cup on said disk and adapted to enter the lower. end of a roll-set on said disk, a similar disk supported for vertical movement at the upper end of said structure, a similar cup at the lower surface; of the last named disk, means for rotating said disks to unwind the roll further characterized by a carriage slidably mounted adjacent toone of said disks, a friction wheel carried by said carriage, a length indicator connected to said wheel, and a spring drawing said carriage toward said disk, means for holding said carriage in a retracted position from the roll,and means rotatable with one of said disks for releasing said holding means.

5. A machine of the. character described comprising a vertical hollow structure adapted. to receive a roll of material, a disk rotatably mounted at the bottom of said structure, a cup, onsaid disk and adapted to enter the lower. end of a roll. set on said disk, 21 similar disk supported for vertical movement atthc upper end of said structure, a similar cup at the lower surface of the last named-disk, means for rotating said disks to unwind the roll further characterized by a carriage slidably mounted adjacent to one of said disks, a friction wheel carried by said carriage, a length indicator connected to said wheel, and aspring drawing said carriage toward. said disk, at stop, member pivotally-mounted on said structure and engageable with said carriageetofhold said carriage in a retracted position from said. disk, and meansv rotatable with one of said disks for disengagingsaid stop member from saidcarriage.

7 (Referenceson following page) UNITED STATES PATENTS Briody et a1. Mar. 14, 1911 Luzenberg Sept. 13, 1921 Hosch Sept. 13, 1921 Eagle Apr. 4, 1922 Knittle Nov. 8, 1932 6 Alexander Nov. 22, 1932 Wikle July 6, 1937 Gollwitzer June 30, 1942 Frost Oct. 12, 1943 Grondona July 31, 1945 Jeckert et a1. Apr. 4, 1950 Knaprlisch Oct. 31, 1950 Mack June 23, 1953 

